Brace for midweek mercury mayhem

Don’t be fooled by the weekend degree dip in some places; the sun will once again play tormentor from Wednesday.

The Patna Meteorological Centre, in its long-range forecast issued on Sunday, has said that maximum temperatures will rise sharply across Jharkhand from March 26.

“Chart analysis and other factors indicate that the dry westerly winds will dominate the state after the next 48 hours. This is likely to push the mercury up to an oppressive level of more than 36°C at many places,” said T.N. Jha, a senior Met official in Patna.

Jha, however, hinted at sharp showers at a few places, including Ranchi, in a day or two owing to the impact of a cyclonic circulation hovering over Chhattisgarh.

“Rainfall is expected only in isolated places. But, if the cyclonic circulation advances towards the Odisha coast, more areas of Jharkhand can expect to get wet,” he added.

A duty officer at Ranchi weather office said that though south-easterly winds prevailed over the state on Sunday, they had not drawn enough moisture for heavy showers and Celsius plunge.

“There are chances of light rain and thunder only in the next 48 hours. Skies will remain partly cloudy for another day,” the duty officer said.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Calcutta too predicted partly cloudy skies in the next 24 hours, but warned of steep temperature rise from March 26. “The cyclonic circulation over Chhattisgarh may result in light showers. The circulation formed under the impact of a western disturbance in the north lying close to Himachal Pradesh,” said a Alipore weatherman. He added: “But, the mercury will climb from midweek.”

It remained a sultry Sunday in heat-cursed Daltonganj, which recorded a maximum of 36°C, two notches above normal, against 36.4°C a day ago.

Ranchi was a tad pleasant at 32°C instead of 33.4°C on Saturday. As was Jamshedpur at 34.2°C against 35.2°C some 24 hours earlier.

Weathermen have ruled out a Nor’wester in the next 24 hours. Last year, the first summer buster had hit the state on March 17.